Mike Monroe: Allen sits among greatest shooters

Boston’s Ray Allen needs one more 3-pointer to match Reggie Miller’s all-time record for threes, and he will be going after it Thursday night against the Lakers at TD Garden in Boston, with Miller doing the analysis and commentary. TNT months ago picked the rematch of last season’s NBA finalists for one of its Thursday night telecasts.

Conspiracy theorists, of course, will find some sort of evil plot in all that symmetry. As if Allen weren’t trying to get open for one more 3-pointer against the Bobcats on Monday, when the Celtics trailed by three with 30 seconds left in what would be a five-point loss in Charlotte.

The fact Celtics fans will be able to celebrate with Allen when, in all likelihood, he ties and/or breaks the record against the Lakers, with Miller there to enjoy the moment with him is nothing more than serendipity.

Miller may enjoy the moment more than Allen, who will have a game to finish. The great Pacers shooter appreciates what Allen has done to put himself in the position.

“All records are made to be broken,” Miller told NBATV in an interview conducted by Matt Winer, Dennis Scott and former Spurs 3-point ace Brent Barry. “People say, ‘Aren’t you a little upset, or hurt?’

“Absolutely not. You appreciate how much time and effort it takes to get to this ? point. We’re talking about one of the greatest shooters ever, in Ray Allen, and we’re talking about shooting. No crossovers; no fancy dunks. Shooting.”

Allen is 30th on the all-time scoring list, fifth among active players, and 7,677 of his 21,885 points came from behind the 3-point arc. Most of the rest came from the perimeter or the foul line.

He is a shooter, not a driver, and there is a reason he always finishes at the top of Sports Illustrated’s annual players’ poll to name the league’s best shooter.

No player has worked harder to perfect his shot.

“The guy shows up three to four hours before a tip,” Miller said. “He stays late after practice to get his shots in. These are things people don’t see.

“I hope there are young kids out there who are watching TNT, or ESPN, or whatever it may be, when the record goes down and understand how long and how hard a path Ray took to get to this record. The time in the gym, staying late, that’s what I appreciate, and that’s why I have no qualms about it. I know the hours Ray put in the gym to get to where he is.”

Allen is the best pure shooter in the game today, and though Kobe Bryant is the player nearly every coach would love to have taking a potential game-winning shot, Allen does not shrink from pressure.

Shooting percentages alone don’t determine which players were the best shooters. The very best shooters attract the most defensive attention. Often, their shots are more difficult than those taken by players who don’t frighten their opponent.

Allen and Miller shared a trait that makes their shooting even more remarkable: ability to catch and shoot in a fraction of a second. It is a skill derived from hours in the gym, catching and shooting, simulating game conditions as closely as possible.

Where does Allen rank among the great pure shooters in league history?

He is in the top 10, though not the best pure shooter in Celtics history.

Larry Bird’s shooting form may not have been as picture perfect as Allen’s, but no Celtic ever had a better shooting eye, and he was best when a game was on the line.